2015 TRAVELS : October 2015

Drove to Flagstaff and stayed for a few days having a great time catching up with great friends. Talking, good food, hiking, shopping, seeing places we would not have seen without knowing them. Thank you so much Bobby and Peter for a special time.

Roy got the side window on the Dodge replaced which got broken in the Baja.

While spending four days here we have been taken to special hidden gems around Flagstaff – Shultz tank - a water hole, The Museum of Northern Arizona - Features the anthropology, biology, geology, and Fine Arts of the Colorado Plateau region - fantastic, Picture Canyon, Babbett Ranch, Red Mountain where we hunted for arrowheads and pottery shards with a little success and cut short as we heard a pack of coyotes that were heading our way – so lucky to have super friends.

Chapel of the Holy Dove - we last visited here for friends wedding in 2011, sadly one friend died but I still felt her spirit.

PICTURE CANYON

PETROGLYPHS AT PICTURE CANYON

BLANKET FLOWERS STILL IN BLOOM AT PICTURE CANYON

ON BABBETT RANCH

CRATERS EVERYWHERE

BABBETT RANCH AND PICNIC PLACE

THIS IS WHAT PETER WROTE ABOUT THIS HIKE WE ENJOYED AT RED MOUNTAIN "A perfect Halloween hike to the mysterious Red Mountain, hoodoos all around, tarantulas at our feet, bats flitting overhead, a raven watching, coyotes howling and Indiana Jones as my shadow." HE IS SO ELOQUENT!

HERE'S THE TARANTULA

ROY DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST!

RED MOUNTAIN

THREE WISE MONKEYS!

RED MOUNTAIN

MORE RED MOUNTAIN

RED MOUNTAIN TRAIL END

Whoopee we did it! We got places to spend the night at Phantom Ranch, not any old dormitory place – we are in a cabin! Over the years we have tried about ten times to get a place at Phantom but had never been successful.

It all happened on Monday when we arrived a the Grand Canyon, we first went to Mather campground to see if we could get a site for that night but it was full. Our booking was for Tuesday and Wednesday nights so we knew a dirt road just on the edge of Tusayan where you can camp for free so that sorted Monday. Next we went to the Bright Angel transportation desk at Bright Angel Lodge to see if there were any cancellations for Tuesday (we had decided it was Tuesday or nothing as the weather was set to change on Thursday. They still had only one female in the dormitory so we put our name on the waiting list and we were first on the list. He told us there was a cabin free but another couple were coming back at 2-30 that day but if they did not want it we could have it. So we hung around till 3pm and they had still not come to confirm, he said come back at 6-30pm....... and joy of joys they did not want it so we got it! Got all meals booked – Hikers Stew when we arrive tomorrow evening, breakfast on Wednesday morning at 5am then a packed lunch for the hike back. $273-46 all inclusive.

THE START!

Tuesday morning dawned clear and sunny, up at 6am, it was minus 3oC, drove to the car park at the Backcountry office where we could leave our rig then walked to Bright Angel Lodge and got the 8am Hikers special shuttle bus to South Kaibab trailhead where we started our descent, beautiful views, rough trail due to the mules using it so much but we loved every minute. Seeing the Colorado River at the bottom of the Canyon and after all our efforts was superb, Phantom Ranch and the surrounding cabins and dorms were designed by Mary Colter in a rustic design – so pleased we got a cabin it made it so special. We had showers then a wander along the north Kaibab trail a short way then a sleep before dinner! We were starving and the food was great and as much as you wanted – served family style with 4 tables of 10 and two sittings. Great company and lots of laughs! We ended our evening with a Ranger talk – was good till she ended with – who wants to go scorpion hunting! - Not me – it was bad enough she said they live down here and get in everywhere! Next morning we were shaking out clothes and boots to check for them – all good fun.

It was so warm down in the bottom of the canyon, no need for heater in the room.

Oooh Aah Point on South Kaibab trail on way down

lunchtime

Phantom Ranch at last!

Our Cabin

a welcome coffee at Phantom Ranch!

not that we have walked enough to get down here - we had a wander along the North Kaibab trail

Two hearts of prickly pear!

The view of the Supermoon - harvest moon from our cabin window!

Up next morning for the 5am breakfast, the 6-30 was fully booked! Then back to bed for an hour and half. We set off up the Bright Angel Trail at 8-20am, it was a beautiful trail, the weather was fine but not as much sun which was a blessing. The final word goes to my beloved husband – my Sherpa Roy – who carried our only rucsac both ways – it weighed 25lbs! - bless him!